Trust Building Exercises

Trust Building Exercises to Deepen Your Bond
Ready to connect with your horse and build a stronger partnership? In this post, I’m sharing some of my favorite trust building exercises that not only create a deeper sense of connection but also help boost your horse’s confidence. Whether you’re working with a young horse or just looking to refresh your groundwork, these ideas are a great place to start.

You can do these trust building exercises on your own or with a friend—whatever feels safest and most comfortable for you. Some challenges might come easily to your horse, while others could take more time and patience. That’s totally normal.

The key is to go at your horse’s pace. Don’t rush or push too hard. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s about connection, confidence, and building trust in a fun, low-pressure way. Keep things interesting, stay patient, and enjoy the process together.

Trust Building Exercises for Horse and Handler

*Graded from Easier to more Difficult

Lower the Head

It might seem like a small thing, but teaching your horse to lower their head on cue is one of the most effective trust building exercises you can do. A lowered head is a natural sign of relaxation in horses—they usually only do it when they feel safe, like when they’re eating, drinking, or resting.

When we work with our horses, they’re often alert with their heads high. Teaching them to drop their head helps signal that they can let their guard down and trust you.

Start by gently applying downward pressure on the lead rope. The moment you feel even the slightest give, release and reward immediately. If your horse doesn’t respond at first, increase the pressure gradually—but be quick to release when they try. You may need to be extra sensitive at first, rewarding even the smallest movement.

Over time, aim to use lighter and lighter pressure until your horse responds with just a subtle cue. Eventually, you can even encourage them to lower their head all the way to the ground—a beautiful sign of softness, surrender, and growing trust.

Tarp on the Ground

This is one of my favorite trust building exercises because it really shows how your horse processes new or unusual challenges. Start by laying a tarp flat on the ground and inviting your horse to investigate it. For some, this might be no big deal. For others, it can feel really scary.

Begin by calmly leading your horse up to the tarp without pressure—let them sniff, look, and listen. Next, walk over the tarp yourself so they can see and hear it move underfoot. When they seem more comfortable, encourage them to place just one foot on it. The moment they do, praise and reward.

If your horse hesitates or backs away, that’s okay. Stay patient and consistent, gradually working closer over time. The goal is not just to walk over the tarp—it’s to help your horse feel safe doing something that felt scary at first. That’s where real trust starts to grow.

Blindfold

This exercise asks a lot of your horse’s trust by temporarily removing one of their most important senses: sight. Horses rely heavily on their vision to feel safe, so wearing a blindfold can feel very vulnerable. Because of that, I don’t recommend doing this exercise often—but it can be a powerful way to deepen trust when done carefully.

Start small by placing the blindfold over your horse’s eyes for just a second, then gradually increase the time in small increments. I used positive reinforcement—clicking and rewarding with treats each time I put the blindfold on—to help my horse feel comfortable. Keep practicing until your horse calmly accepts the blindfold without fear.

Always make sure your horse is relaxed and not frightened before tying on the blindfold for longer periods. Patience and sensitivity are key to making this trust building exercise a positive experience.

Tight Spaces

Most horses naturally dislike confined spaces, which can make trailer loading and similar situations stressful. This trust building exercise helps your horse build confidence and feel safer in tight areas. You can use a variety of props, but I like to work with two barrels.

Start by placing the barrels far enough apart so your horse can walk through easily without hesitation. Gradually, move the barrels closer together, step by step. Your horse might balk at first, but just like with the tarp exercise, patience and preparation are key. By moving slowly and calmly, you can help your horse grow comfortable with the narrowing space.

The goal is to get the barrels close enough that they lightly touch your horse’s sides as you lead them through—without fear or resistance. For an extra challenge, you can even practice backing your horse through the space once they feel confident.

Stay

Trust is a two-way street. Do you feel confident that your horse will stay put if you need to drop the lead for just a moment? Teaching a reliable stay cue is a valuable trust building exercise that helps build respect and communication between you and your horse.

I like to use a simple vocal cue like “Whoa” or “Stay.” Start by choosing a spot and asking your horse to stay using your chosen word. Take a few steps backward, keeping your eyes on them. If your horse moves, calmly bring them back to the spot and reinforce the cue. Repeat this patiently until you can move freely around your horse without them leaving their place.

Consistency is key—practice regularly to keep the stay strong and reliable, and watch your horse’s trust in you grow.

This is a really handy thing to teach your horse. Poncho knows to stay on his mark, which is just a piece of plyboard, but you can teach your horse to ground tie too by dropping his lead on the ground.

Tarp Overhead

Now we’re moving into some of the more challenging trust building exercises. These activities require a little extra patience and sensitivity but can deepen your horse’s confidence and your bond even more.

This exercise helps your horse get comfortable with unusual sensations and builds trust through gentle exposure. Start by holding the tarp so your horse can see and sniff it at their own pace.

Next, gently place the tarp on their withers and back. If your horse stays calm while walking with the tarp on, slowly move it up their neck. Always watch for signs of tension or “freezing” — if your horse seems worried, pause and take a few steps to help them relax.

Once your horse is comfortable, you can carefully pull the tarp over their head. This can be startling, so take it in small, gradual steps and be patient. A smaller tarp works best for this exercise, making it less overwhelming for your horse.

Umbrella

An umbrella can be a surprising and spooky object for most horses, making it a great tool for trust building exercises. Start by showing your horse the closed umbrella, letting them see and sniff it calmly.

Next, gently shake the umbrella a little distance away so your horse can hear the sound without feeling threatened. Then, hold the umbrella close to yourself—not your horse—and slowly open it so they can watch it change shape.

If your horse stays calm, encourage them to investigate the open umbrella with their nose. When they show curiosity by pointing their head toward it, remove the umbrella and reward them right away.

Be patient and move at your horse’s pace—this exercise can be a little intimidating because the umbrella is such a strange, unfamiliar object. It’s very important that your horse is not tied during this process. If they feel trapped and unable to move away, it can cause more harm than good.

Keep working in small, gentle steps until your horse can stay calm with the umbrella fully open. Remember, patience is always the key to building lasting trust.

That’s it! Are you ready to give these trust building exercies a try?

I hope you feel inspired to try these trust building exercises with your horse. If you enjoyed this post, please share it with fellow horse lovers. And if you want to stick around, be sure to subscribe so you never miss a new post.

I’d love to hear from you! Which of these trust building exercises is your favorite? Drop a comment below and let’s chat.